Molestation case: Back from US, Preity Zinta to record statement tomorrow
Mumbai: Bollywood actress Preity Zinta, who has accused her ex-boyfriend and industrialist Ness Wadia of outraging her modesty, returned to Mumbai on Sunday from the United States and will record her statement before the police on Tuesday.
The 39-year-old actress, who had left India soon after filing an FIR against Wadia on June 12, arrived at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport here this afternoon and refused to speak to the waiting mediapersons.
Read: Actress Preity Zinta files molestation case against Ness Wadia
"As she has arrived in Mumbai, her statement would be recorded soon," said Deputy Police Commissioner Ravindra Shisve, who is supervising the probe.
However, another officer privy to the probe stated that the actress's supplementary statement would be recorded either on Monday or on Tuesday.
Preity had filed a police complaint on June 12 night alleging that Wadia (44) outraged her modesty at Wankhede stadium on May 30 when an IPL match was played between Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings, a charge the industrialist has denied as "false and baseless".
Shisve said the investigators want to ask the actress about the exact place where the alleged incident took place and who were around.
Read: Cops verify CCTVs for Preity Zinta molestation case; Ness rejects charges
At one point of time, the actress had claimed, "I left for my seat, but he (Ness) came up to me at my seat and started screaming and abusing me in front of everyone."
"We want to know where she was sitting and who were these 'everyone' she was referring to," the official said. The police apparently want to record Zinta's detailed statement, as the CCTV footages obtained by them do not contain the alleged spat between the two.
The statement will form the basis of further police probe into the matter. "We will decide further course of action once Zinta's statement is recorded," the DCP stated.
Investigators have indicated that Ness would be called for questioning only after recording Zinta's statement.
Zinta and Wadia had broken off their five-year-long relationship a couple of years back but continued to share business interest.
Read: Preity Zinta dating someone in LA
Several players of IPL team Kings XI Punjab, of which Zinta is a co-owner with Wadia, its support staff, and officials of Wankhede Stadium were claimed to have been present when the alleged incident took place.
Based on Zinta's written complaint, Marine Drive police registered an FIR against Wadia under IPC sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman).
Police have so far recorded the statements of at least seven witnesses, including Indian Premier League COO Sundar Raman and BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel in connection with the case.
Read: False and baseless allegations: Ness Wadia on Preity's sexual molestation complaint
Meanwhile, police is probing the threat calls received by the secretary of Ness' father, Nusli Wadia, allegedly from fugitive gangster Ravi Pujari.
Two personal secretaries to the industrialist had received calls on their cell phones from a person, who claimed to be fugitive gangster Ravi Pujari, on June 16 and filed a complaint with N M Joshi Marg police station the next day.
Also Read: 'No messing with Preity,' Wadias complain threat from underworld
The Wadia group secretaries received threatening calls and a text message warning that their "business will be in trouble" if the actress is harassed.
Exhausted but happy to finally be back home in Mumbai. I'd like to apologize to the media but it will not be... http://t.co/4xFPYca7eB
— Preity zinta (@realpreityzinta) June 22, 2014